What is Paganism?

The word pagan is a derivative of the Latin pagnus or "country dweller." During

the initial thrust of Christianity, focus was on converting the population centers;

thus, those that lived in the "country" were among the last to be converted. Later

the word "Pagan" was used in derogatory terms to describe the uneducated,

uncultured, or whose religious practices were other than the Christian faith.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines pagan as meaning as person who is

not Christian; One who has no religion. The term "pagan" no longer applies to

Judeo, Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist religions, it is no longer considered to be

politically correct to call them pagan.

For 25, 000 years before Christianity, paganism had developed alongside

mankind. Paganism is not just a nature based religion or spiritual path, it is a

natural one, an extension of man's evolution. Pagan religious or spiritual paths

include druids, shamans, witches and all pre-Christian religions.

What is the difference between a neo-pagan and a New Ager?

Neo-paganism is defined as the reconstruction of pre-Christian religions or

spiritual paths. The word Neo means new, Neo-pagan literally means new

pagan. The main feature that makes neo-paganism different from the worlds

primary religions (Christian/Judeo, Islamic) is the absence of any boundaries

between the spiritual and natural world. The French philosopher Lucien Lieuy-

Brul (1857-1939) calls this absence Parcipition Mystique or "Mystical

Participation." This Mystical participation is a fusion of worlds: waking and

dreams, individual will and spontaneous emotions.

Neo-paganism itself is not a religion, but rather feelings and behaviors known as

paganism, that constitutes a type of consciousness lost from modern religions.

Neo-paganism is a movement that is attempting to claim that consciousness.

New Agers are described as a movement of emerging consciousness devoted

towards making the earth a healthier, happier place. New Age does include

practitioners of meditation, Reiki, Yoga, and many other

disciplines both pre and post Christian. New Agers also engage in the use of

tarots, crystal healing and astrology, though some may use crystals for healing

and not believe in the power of tarot.

Many New Agers and Neo-pagans are environmentalists or, as they liked to be

called, "tree huggers." New Agers often share many of the beliefs of neo-pagans,

i.e.: healthy earth, harmony among all, and the common desire to search for

answers.

The primary difference between a pagan and someone who engages in New

Age practices is that a "New Ager" does not belong to a movement; whereas a

Neo-pagan is usually affiliated with a specific group or tradition- Wicca, Druids

and other occult/pagan groups. However, most major bookstores combine all

Pagan, Neo-pagan, New Age, Occult, and Satanic books listed under the

general heading of New Age.

What is the occult?

The occult is taken from the Latin word occultus, which means "hidden." The

word occult has a very derogatory meaning; fundamentalist Christian's view

anyone associated with the occult as Satanic. Modern day occultists include all

pagans, neo-pagan, some New Ager metaphysics, and the hermetic practices.

Is Paganism a religion?

No, it isn't. It is a catchall term that describes a religious and spiritual concept;

much like Christianity describes a concept made up of various sects and

denominations. There are many forms of Paganism that make up the whole. The

Pagan Pledge to Spirituality attempts to capture these concepts and ideals.

What is the Pagan Pledge to Spirituality?

The Pagan Pledge to Spirituality is a pledge that is part of The Pagan Spirit

Alliance (PSA) written by Selena Fox in 1980. The PSA is a Pagan friendship

network within Circle Network. The Circle Network is part of Selena Fox's Circle

Wicca. PSA is comprised of Pagans attuned to positive (helping/healing)

magickal ways. They make the following pledge to themselves not to Circle

Wicca or PSA. Though the Pagan Pledge does not claim to be for all pagans, but

rather those who hold true Wicca and its offshoot traditions. It is as follows:

PAGAN PLEDGE TO SPIRITUALITY

I am a Pagan and I dedicate myself to channeling Spiritual Energy

I know that I am part of the Whole of Nature. May I grow in understanding of the

Unity of all Nature. May I always walk in Balance.

May I always be mindful of the diversity of Nature as well as its Unity and may I

always be tolerant of those whose race, appearance, sex, sexual preference,

culture, and other ways differ from my own.

May I use the Force (psychic powers) wisely and never use it for aggression nor

for malevolent purposes. May I never direct it to curtail the free will of another.

May I always be mindful that I create my own reality and that I have the power

within me to create positivity in my life.

May I always take responsibility for all my actions, be they conscious or

unconscious.

May I always act in honorable ways: being honest with myself and others,

keeping my word whenever I have given it, fulfilling all responsibilities and

commitments I have taken on the best of my ability.

May I always remember that whatever is sent out always returns magnified to the

sender.

May the Forces of Karma move swiftly to remind me of my spiritual commitments

when I have begun to falter from them, and may I use the Karmic feedback to

help myself grow and be more attuned to my Inner Pagan Spirit.

May I always remain strongly committed to my Spiritual ideals in the face of

adversity and negativity. May the Force of my Inner Spirit ground out all

malevolence directed my way and transfer it into positivity. May my Inner Light

shine so strongly that malevolent forces can not even approach my sphere of

existence.

May I always grow in Inner Wisdom and Understanding. May I see every

problem that I face as an opportunity to develop myself spiritually in solving it.

May I always act out of Love to all things on this Planet--to other humans, to

plants, to animals, to minerals, to elementals, to spirits, and to other entities.

May I always be mindful that the Goddess and God in all of their forms dwell

within me

and that this divinity is reflected through my own Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.

May I always channel Love and Light from my being. May my Inner Spirit, rather

than my ego-self, guide all my thoughts, feelings and actions.

SO MOTE IT BE!

(For more information on Pagan Spirit Alliance and other pagan and neo-pagan

groups and organizations, see appendix A)

What are the pagan holidays?

There are eight major holidays that are celebrated by pagans with a Celtic or

Wiccan background. They are:

Yule………………...December 22

Imblog…….………...February 2

Ostara……………….March 22

Beltane……………...May 1

Summer Solstice……June 22

Lugnasadh…………August 1 or 2

Mabon………………September 22

Samhain…………….October 31

These holidays or Sabbats are of Celtic origin and reflect the planting an

harvesting seasons. The two major holidays would have been Beltane and

Samhain, others following a seasonal route. The root word of Sabbat is Greek,

sabatu meaning to rest. Many of the Sabbats are in close relationship to the

major Christian holidays; Yule and Christmas; Ostara and Easter.

According to the author of The Sabbats: A New Approach to Living the Old

Ways, Edian McCoy, that most of the pre-Christian and post-Christian cultures

have a certain similarity in the various Sabbats, and though they go by many

different names they all serve the same basic purpose. Other traditions, Druid,

Wicca, and Astrau (among others) will be covered in later sections, pertaining to

each particular tradition or path. The following is a demonstration of how varying

cultures have similar religious holidays, but should not be construed into

believing that they are celebrated in the same manner or for similar reasons.

Culture Sabbats

Australian…………………Y, O, SS, S

Africa (general)……………Y, O, SS, M

Aryan………………………Y, O, B, SS, L, M

Astrau………………………Y, I, O, B, SS, L, M, S

Celtic……………………….Y, I, O, B, SS, L, M, S

Egyptian…………………….Y, O, L, M

Greco-Roman……………….Y, I, O, SS, L, M

Native American (general)….Y, I, SS, L, M, S

South Pacific…………………Y, B, SS, S

Key: Y= Yule, I= Imblog, O= Ostara, B= Beltane, SS= Summer Solstice, L=

Lugnasadh, M= Mabon, S= Samhain.

Are there different types of pagans?

Yes. Paganism is as varied as the Christian religions and may include but is in

no way limited to Druids, Astrau, Wicca, and Radical Fairies. Shamanism and

Witchcraft are not formal religions, though neo-shamanism and neo-witches, i.e.

Wicca and associated branches of are considered to be part of the neo-pagan

movement. American Indians are included in this text, but since their religious

practices were never discontinued they are more pagans then neo-pagan. (This

would also be true of other religions in Africa, Australia, and South America,

though there are more then the few mentioned above.)

There are also anthropological terms that describe pagans, these term are

largely attributed to Issac Bonewits, but can also be found in several

anthropological texts, under the headings: paleo, meso, syncreto, cilvo, and neo.

Paleo-paganism: is a pagan culture, that has not been disrupted by other

civilizations or other cultures. This does not include any known cultures at this

time.

Meso-paganism: a group, that is or has been influenced by a conquering culture,

but has been able to maintain an independence of religious practices. This

includes Native Americans and Australian Aborigine Bushmen

Syncreto-paganism: A culture, which has been conquered but adopts and

merges the conquering cultures religious practices along with there own. This

includes Voodoo, Santeria, and the Culdee Christianity.

Civilo-paganism: the religions of "civilized" societies, such as -- Classical Greco-

Roman religion, Egyptian religion, Aztec & Mayan religions.

Neo-paganism: which this text is primarily concerned with, is an attempt by

modern people to reconnect with nature, pre-Christian religions or other

nature based spiritual paths. (Harwood-Kaczmarczik, Susan, Br'an Arthur

Davis-Howe and etal)

The following chapters and sections will attempt to answer questions on most of

the major neo-pagan groups.

What are the different terms for pagans' worship?

Most pagans worship various Gods and Goddesses; some of the are from the

same culture base and others are not. The terms for worship are: Monotheism,

dualism, polytheism, pantheism, animism and henotheism.

Monotheism is the view that there is only one God, this is primarily a Christian-

Judeo and Islamic view towards worship. Though many pagans, while they do

worship multiple Gods and Goddesses have the view that all are derived from

one source or power.

Dualism is the belief that both good and evil simultaneously exist and that one

can not survive without the other. That they balance each other even though

they are independent of each other. This is the Zoroaster view.

Polytheism is the belief in more than one God/esses and that all these

God/esses are of equal power and authority.

Pantheism is the belief in more than one God/esses, though there is a hierarchy

involved. This is demonstrated in the Greco-Roman religions along with the

Norse.

Animism is the belief that everything has a soul, plant, mineral and animal:

including all the elements, air, water, earth and fire. This is the in all reality

probably the first form of worship.

Henotheism is the belief in multiple God/esses, though the worshipper "borrows"

from various cultural groups. Example would be, worshipping a Greco-Roman

God for one thing and then asking a Celtic God for something else. This is fairly

new form of worship used by the neo-pagan.

What type of people are neo-pagans?

All kinds of people are pagans! Doctors, lawyers, police, judges, actors,

musicians, housewives, and grandparents, the list is endless. Neo-pagans are

people from all walks of life who are searching for an alternate form of religion or

spirituality, something to fill a void that they sense on the spiritual/soul level.

Neo-paganism attracts and accepts those who reject or who are rejected by the

major religions and established peer groups, either due to their sexual

preference or their desire to go beyond contemporary religious thought and

dogma. Neo-paganism accepts those who are in need of a spiritual shelter and

those who choose to challenge outmoded belief systems.

How do I know if I'm meant to be a pagan?

Paganism is a combination of "meant to be" and "choose to be." A meant to be

pagan will discuss how when coming upon a particular faith of tradition will tell

you of having a feeling of coming home. Where an "choose to be" pagan, usually

will discuss how something was lacking in their life and they made a conscious

effort to find it. Paganism as a faith isn't a choice one should make lightly. As

with any life altering choice, it should be made with care and thought. That is

why it is highly recommended that you read, read, and read some more, before

you decide.

You mentioned spirituality and religion as something separate. Are they?

Yes. Spirituality is a feeling rather than an idea. It consists of imagery rather then

concepts. Instead of dogma and doctrine, there are myths and nature. Spiritual

cultures do not distinguish between myth and fantasies, or spirit and nature, or

religion and life. They attempt to incorporate all of these things in their quest to

become one with the self.

Religion on the other hand, and this includes Neo-pagan religions, has set rules,

dogma, and doctrine which outline the way things are suppose to be. Wicca is a

prime example of a Neo-pagan religion. It is one of the few Neo-pagan religions

recognized by the United States.

You can be both spiritual and religious; you can also be religious without being

spiritual, as you can be spiritual without being religious. Both religion and

spirituality rely on faith, or the ability to accept the unseen and the unknown as

reality.

Do Neo-pagans believe in heaven?

Neo-pagans do not believe in the Christian (monotheist) concept of heaven.

However most pagan religions do believe in some form of an Otherworld, or a

place for the spirit to reside after death.

The New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology states the Celts named their

version of the "Otherworld" T`ir na N' OG or the side where the Celtic's vision of

perfection was brought to fruition. The Norse had Valhalla, a place where

warriors or those who died in battle would go. Here they would continue fighting

and feasting until the End of time. Some Tribes of Africa hold the belief that there

is a hereafter that is a place of judgment and, one would be rewarded according

to what one had achieved in this life.

The Encyclopedia of Mythology further claims that American Indian mythology is

as varied as that of Africa. One common element in Native American spiritual

beliefs is the belief in the existence of three worlds. The Upper world is where

the heavenly powers reside, man and spirits inhabit the Middle world and the

Lower world is where the dead reside. (Matthews, pages 35-36)

The Wiccan religion has the Summerland where the soul or spirit resides until it

is reborn into the next life. (RavenWolf, page 257)

What do pagans believe?

Paganism covers a plethora of religions and spiritual practices. Because of the

vast number of traditions that fall under the general term pagan, it is not possible

to make a statement that applies to all of them. There are, however, a few

general statements that will apply to the majority of Pagan religions or practices.

Many pagans are either, and sometimes both, polytheists (the worship or belief

in more than one God) or pantheists (belief in or worship of all Gods).

Pagans recognize the duality, both female and male aspects of the One.

Another common belief held by most pagans is that all life is sacred and that all

are equal; plant, animal, and man.

That everyone is responsible for his or her actions, and that karma, or the Law of

Three will balance out these actions, though not all pagans believe in karma or

the Law of Three.

Most pagans have a belief in reincarnation. Though the degree of this belief is

varied as the religions involved.

Why do Neo-pagans believe in reincarnation?

Reincarnation, or the belief that the soul or spirit is reborn is an old philosophy

held by many religions, including Christianity. The primary purpose of

reincarnation is to learn and grow, to evolve to the next level. Is should also be

noted that most of the religious groups teach that there is a period of rest in

between incarnations-a time for reflection, for the spirit or soul to contemplate

what it has learned. (The various neo-pagans beliefs in reincarnation will be

discussed in the coming chapters.) (Cranston & Williams, preface)

Can you be both a neo-pagan and a Christian?

Yes, though not without some difficulty. Christians believe in divine

omnipresence, the concept that God is everywhere, in everything. Neo-pagans

view it pretty much the same way. To Neo-pagans each living thing is sacred.

There are also several Christian-pagan religious groups. These include Santeria,

Voodoo and the Culdee Christianity. These have incorporated both pagan roots

and Christian faith into their daily lives without excluding any of the deities

involved.

There is also the other point of view, which will always seek to find the

differences instead of the commonalties. These differences being the concept of

Christianity demands that you need a savior, whereas pagan religions don't. A

Christian views life on a linear basis, having a beginning, middle, and an end:

Pagans view life as being circular, consisting of death and rebirth. Christians

believe the bible gave them dominion over the earth, pagans believe that

mankind must work as partners with the earth.

Many people might find it difficult to reconcile these two paths; others see it as a

possibility. It is up to each individual to choose their own path, and in doing so

respect the rights of others.

Isn't paganism a cult?

No, but there is often some confusion because there are so many cult like

groups which fall under the general guise of Neo-pagan. One must

keep in mind that while there may be some overlap; there are even more

differences.

A cult is classified as a group wherein the will of one or a select few dominates

the entire group. Modern day cults, which fall under this definition, are:

Jonestown, Waco, and Heavens Gate. Cults actively seek converts; pagans do

not.

A cult may have one or more of the following characteristics, according to Issac

Bonewits.

The leader is treated by the followers as someone equal to God.

Making a lot of money from the believers

The teachings deviate from the traditional teachings.

Claims of having found a new doctrine.

Encourages extreme behavior or practices from its followers.

Neo-pagan religious practices are religions which promote individuality and

healthy relationship with your god(s) of choice. They don’t tell you what or whom

to believe in, nor do they insist that one go against ones own principles or

beliefs.

Aren’t pagans devil worshippers?

Some Neo-pagans do not believe in the concept of the devil. They claim that the

Devil is a Christian creation, actually it is much older than that, but as being such

the neo-pagans won't/don’t recognize him. There is also the neo-pagan

movement to distance themselves from Satan worshippers in an attempt to

legitimize themselves to the general public. There are several Satanic sects,

some Christian, some pagan, some a combination of both.

In 1486, the publication of the Malleus Malificarn or the "Hammer of Witches"

gave the description of the devil. This description was based off the Greek God

Pan. Unfortunately for the European pagans two of their main deities, Cernnous

and Herne also fit this description of Lucifer. There is some evidence that the

resemblance between these pagan gods and Lucifer is far from accidental and

that it was a device

contrived by the Christian leaders intended to convert and or force pagans to

Christianity.

Why do pagans use the pentagram as a symbol?

The pentagram, which represents man, was a symbol of truth with each point

symbolizing the virtues of mankind: generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry, and

piety. The pentagram has a long history associated with magic and religion.

The Christians refer to it as the Seal of Solomon; Star of David and the Judeo

Cabalistic paths commonly use it. Though the Star of David has six points. Early

Christians even attributed the pentagram to the five wounds of Christ. It wasn't

until the Inquisition in 1302 that the pentagram became a symbol of evil. The

Templar Knights also used the pentegram, though after they're falling out with

the Pope the pentegram was once more regulated as a symbol of evil.

Since it can be drawn with a single line, making it an endless knot, it was used

as a symbol of protection against demons, which is ironic considering that, in

more modern times, the inverted pentagram has become a symbol for Satanists.

In modern times this distinction in the pentagram pointing up or down has

become a symbol of white (up) and black magic (down). It is also a symbol that

some modern day pagans wear to show pride in their belief system.

What is the one thing that most pagans would want the world to know about

them?

Margot Adler summed it up best in her book Drawing Down the Moon:

"We are not evil. We don't harm or seduce people. We are not dangerous. We

are ordinary people like you. We have families, jobs, hopes, and dreams. We are

not a cult. This religion is not a joke. We are not what you think from looking at

TV. We are real. We laugh, we cry. We are serious. We have a sense of humor.

You don't have to be afraid of us. We don’t want to convert you. And please don't

try to convert us. Just give us the same right we give you--to live in peace. We

are much more similar to you than you think." (page 453)

What are some good books to read to learn more about Paganism?

There are a lot of good books to read, actually too many to list them all. The

ones that are listed were found to be helpful in researching this chapter. For a

more complete listing use the bibliography in the back of the book.

Adler, Margot Drawing Down the Moon; Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshipper,

and other Pagans in America Today Penguin USA, March 1997 ISBN#

014019536X

Gay, Peter Enlightenment; The Rise of Modern Paganism Nort (WW Norton &

Co.) July 1995 ISBN# 0393313026

Graves, Robert & etal New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology The Hamlyn

Publishing Group Limited, USA 1974 ISBN# 0 600 02420 2

What are some web-sites to visit?

The number of Pagan and Neo-pagan web-sites is phenomenal, and it keeps

growing. The easiest way to find a web-site on a particular subject is to use your

search engine on the computer. Use the words, pagan, paganism, and Neopagan.

Here are some sites that can help get you started on your search.

However because of the constant ebbs and flow of the web these sites may no

longer exist, but as December 1998 they were still online.

Lizard Pagan Resource Page http://www.ecis.com/~alizard/pagan.html

The General Pagan Facts

http://www.cob.eku.edu.cis/student/benge2/generalfacts.html

Pagan Educational Network http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/OM/PEN.html

Pagan Federation, The http://www.paganfed.demon.co.uk/

Web Pagan Network http://www.pagessub.org/default.html

Other related online egroups.

paganism-subscribe@onelist.com

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Earth Spirit Emporium Inc

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